How are junior league ages and game formats organised from Under 6 to Under 12?

The NRL's official Junior Rugby League Laws (6-12 years, 2026 edition) are a modified version of the international laws, split into three parts by age:

• Under 6 and Under 7: 6 players a side, small field, four 8-minute quarters. Under 6 plays tag only. Under 7 plays tag until the team has done a tackle readiness program.
• Under 8 and Under 9: 8 players a side, a 68 m x 30 m field, four 8-minute quarters, tackle format with a 6-tackle count.
• Under 10, 11 and 12: 11 players a side at Under 10 and 11, 13 at Under 12, two 20-minute halves, bigger fields.

Your child's age group is set by their age on 1 January of the playing year. Children play in their own age group and cannot play up an age (to a maximum of one age group) without parental approval.

The 2026 laws are written by age group, so there is no separate Mini or Mod label in them: the format your child plays is the one for their age in the sections above and the answers below.

Source: Junior Rugby League Laws 6-12 years (Official 2026), https://www.playrugbyleague.com/media/18199/2026-national-6-12-junior-league-laws.pdf and https://www.playrugbyleague.com/laws-of-the-game-community/junior-league-laws-6-12s/